Construction site fence panel foot boot

ABSTRACT

A construction site fence assembly having a foot plate attached and a foot plate cover attachment base unit for separating the fence assembly from traffic and to guide traffic. The base unit includes a pad that is tapered away from the construction site fence panel foot, creating a gentle sloping ramp. The sloping ramp may also include a delineator mount to attach a traffic delineator thereon top of the sloping ramp.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/380,547, filed Jun. 1, 2009, currently allowedand pending issue as U.S. Pat. No. 8,246,012, the subject matter ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a construction site fence, or barrier, footplate base unit or “boot”, and more specifically to a construction sitefence panel foot cover attachment for separating the fence from trafficand to guide traffic so as to safely allow local traffic such as foottraffic and additionally to allow wheelchairs and scooters to travelsafely over the foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A construction site often requires a fence to help protect the site frommaterials being stolen or to keep traffic at a distance from the site orto prevent accidence such as people falling into an excavation.

Once a fence is installed around a construction site or along aconstruction site road frontage, there is a potential for traffic thatis unfamiliar with the new barrier to come into contact with the fenceor the fence panel feet. The typical construction site fence has panelsthat are roughly 7 feet tall by 10 feet long. The bottom corners of thepanels are placed over a fence panel foot, where the foot allowsadditional panels to be attached and supports them vertically. Theoutermost part of the is “foot” is generally the furthest point awayfrom the fence panel bottom and is subject to contact by close movingautomobiles and or foot traffic, especially when the fence panels areerected on or near a sidewalk or walkway adjacent a street or a road.

To make pedestrians and drivers aware of the barrier it is beneficial tostand traffic delineators adjacent to the periphery of the fence so thattraffic can easily see the temporary barrier. The most common approachcurrently in use is to place a traffic delineator, usually having arubber base, next to or on top of the fence foot. Sitting on the fencefoot allows the traffic delineator to often sit unlevel and thedelineator can be easily knocked or moved out of position, or possiblystolen.

The present invention provides a construction site barrier foot platebase where the base can readily attached a traffic delineator withoutany major changes to a standard traffic delineator or any changes to thefence panel foot, and the base can be subsequently removed from thefence panel foot easily once the construction site fence is removedafter site completion.

In a second embodiment of the present invention a construction sitefence panel foot plate is covered by a gradually sloping base.

The gradually sloping base is readily attached to a fence panel footplate as well without any changes to the fence panel foot plate and canalso be subsequently removed from the fence panel foot when theconstruction site fence is removed after site completion.

In a third embodiment of the present invention it is sometimes anadvantage to combine the sloping base unit as just mentioned with theability to attach a traffic delineator as with the base unit aspreviously mentioned.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconstruction site fence boot or base unit that easily attaches to afence panel foot plate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved guidancefor automobile traffic to help prevent contact with the fence panel byproviding a secure attachment of a highly visible traffic delineator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide protection forpedestrian, wheelchair or scooter traffic from contacting the fencepanel foot.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for cleaner,neater look around the construction site fence.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a constructionsite fence panel foot base with added visibility.

The construction site fence foot plate base unit of the presentinvention has other objects and features of advantage which will becomeapparent from and are set forth in more detail in, the accompanyingdrawings and following details.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The construction site fence panel foot base unit of the presentinvention is designed to cover the outward protruding fence foot plate,and comprises briefly, a base unit that includes a traffic delineatormount that longitudinally extends up from the base. The base unitattaches to the fence foot plate through an aperture, where the apertureslides over the fence panel foot plate. The unit includes a fastenerwhich may be of various types. The fastener generally projects downwardinto the inside of the aperture so as to contact the fence panel footplate when applied.

The base unit attaches various types of traffic delineators to the topof the base unit, usually by a bolt or other fastener running throughthe top portion of the base unit so that the delineator is attached tostand vertically from the top of the base unit. The delineator isgenerally a high visibility reflective component which are readilyavailable through many industrial suppliers.

The base unit can also be attached in various other ways such asclamping or tying, such as with nylon ratchet straps or wiring in place.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the construction sitefence panel foot base unit of the present invention is designed to coverthe fence foot plate with a gradually sloping pad, and comprisesbriefly, a base unit having an aperture that slides over the fence footplate. This base unit is generally made of plastic or rubber and tapersaway from the top over the aperture to the edges of the unit. The baseunit would reach out at least a few inches from the foot plate toprovide a gentle slope or ramp area.

This style of “boot” provides a means for foot traffic, wheelchairs andscooters, to ride up over the boot eliminating potential tripping bypedestrians, and bumping by these smaller vehicle wheels, in the area ofnormal foot and pedestrian type traffic.

This aspect of the boot may include a high visibility reflective surfacearound it's perimeter.

As well, this type of boot can also be attached to the foot plate invarious ways such as bolting, clamping or tying, such as with nylonratchet straps or wiring in place.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, the two types of baseunits are combined so as to provide a more visible and further effectivebase unit that can be used in an area where all types of traffic can beexpected. This base unit has a traffic delineator mount attached nearthe center of the pad of the base unit, where the delineator mountprotrudes above the pad and includes a bolt hole through the delineatormount in the same manner to attach any commercially available trafficdelineator.

As well, this type of boot can also be attached to the foot plate invarious ways such as bolting, clamping or tying, such as with nylonratchet straps or wiring in place.

Also, a “puzzle” screw head, or a non-standard key on a tamperproof setscrew used on the base unit fastener(s) can further prevent stolen baseunits and traffic delineators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciatedas the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunctionwith the following detailed description of an illustrative embodimentand accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designatethe same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing theinvention mounted onto a construction site fence foot plate.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing theinvention un-mounted.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment without adelineator attached.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment without a delineatorattached.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment with adelineator attached shown in partial view.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment with a delineatorattached.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment showing analternate inverted C-shaped base.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment showing analternate domed shaped base and with two quick-attach setscrewsaccessible from either side.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment showing analternate attachment method with a leaf spring for tool-less attachment.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment showing analternate attachment method with a magnetic strip, also for tool-lessattachment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate construction site fencefoot plate base unit without a delineator, showing the invention mountedonto a construction site fence foot plate.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the alternate construction site fencefoot plate base unit without a delineator, showing the inventionun-mounted.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view from the back side of the alternateconstruction site fence foot plate base unit of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the alternate construction sitefence foot plate base unit taken along line A from FIG. 12 showing athreaded fastener.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the alternate construction sitefence foot plate base unit taken along line A from FIG. 12, showing aleaf spring for tool-less attachment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternate construction site fencefoot plate base unit having a delineator with a base mount, and showingthe invention mounted onto a construction site fence foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The construction site fence panel foot base unit is generally referredto as 10 as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 1. A construction sitefence 12 is shown in partial view where fence 12 has a foot plate 14,where base unit 10 is attached thereon foot plate 14 through aperture 10a and a traffic delineator 18 is attached on base unit 10. FIG. 2 showsdelineator 18 attached onto base unit 10 and un-attached from fence footplate 14. Delineator 18 includes reflector tape 18 a.

As best seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, base unit 10 includes a section ofrectangle tubing or sleeve 10 b, a delineator attachment tube 10 c, afence foot plate clamping fastener 16, threaded at the top center ofsleeve 10 b and at the bottom center of tube 10 c. Delineator attachmenttube 10 c includes a delineator fastener hole 10 d.

As seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, base unit 10 has delineator 18 attached,shown in partial view. Delineator 18 is longitudinally extending up frombase unit sleeve 10 b and is attached by delineator fastener 20.

As seen in FIG. 7, an alternate base unit uses a section of rectanglechannel 22, a delineator attachment tube 22 a, a fence foot plateaperture 22 b.

As seen in FIG. 8, an alternate base unit uses a section of domedchannel 24, a delineator attachment tube 24 a, a fence foot plateaperture 24 b, and two foot plate clamp fasteners 26 a and 26 b.

As seen in FIG. 9, rectangle tubing 10 b uses a quick-attach fastener,leaf spring 30 attached to the top of aperture 10 a by fastener 30 a.

As seen in FIG. 10, rectangle tubing 10 b uses an alternate quick-attachfastener, a magnetic strip 32 attached to the bottom of aperture 10 a.

As best seen in FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14, a second embodiment of thepresent invention, the construction site fence panel foot base unit 110is designed to cover the fence foot plate 14. Base unit 110 consists ofa gradually sloping pad 110 a. Base unit 110 includes aperture 110 bthat slides over the fence foot plate 14. Base unit pad 110 a tapersaway from the top of base unit 110 where threaded fastener 110 c islocated, out to the base unit pad edges 110 d. As seen in FIG. 11 baseunit 110 may include a high visibility reflector strip 110 e locatedaround base unit edges 110 d.

As seen in FIG. 15 base unit 110 may use a quick-attach fastener, leafspring 114 which is attached to the top of aperture 110 b by fastener114 a.

As best seen in FIG. 16, a third embodiment of the present invention,the construction site fence panel foot base unit 210 is combined with atraffic delineator mount 212 attached near the center of pad 210 a ofthe base unit 210. Delineator mount 212 protrudes above pad 210 a andincludes a fastener 212 a through delineator mount 212, which attachestraffic delineator 18.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical application,to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claimsappended hereto and their equivalents.

1. A construction site fence assembly comprising: a construction sitefence panel; a fence panel foot plate attached to said construction sitefence panel; an attachable and releasable base unit mounted onto saidfence panel foot plate; and where said base unit has an aperture throughwhich said fence panel foot plate is matingly affixed so as to connectsaid base attachment unit to said fence foot plate, said aperturecomprising a top roof, two side walls and a bottom floor; and where saidbase unit is tapered away from said fence panel foot to create a gentlesloping ramp.
 2. The construction site fence assembly of claim 1,wherein said bottom floor of said aperture is defined by a bottom floorportion extending from each said side wall toward one another so as todefine a generally C-shape for said base attachment unit.
 3. Theconstruction site fence assembly of claim 1, where said base unitincludes a threaded fastener protruding downwardly into said aperture soas to affix said base unit to said barrier foot plate.
 4. Theconstruction site fence assembly of claim 1, where said base unitincludes a high visibility reflector therearound.
 5. A construction sitefence assembly comprising: a construction site fence panel; a fencepanel foot plate attached to said construction site fence panel; anattachable and releasable base unit mounted onto said fence panel footplate; where said base unit has an aperture which is matingly affixed soas to connect said base attachment unit to said fence foot plate, saidaperture comprising a top roof, two side walls and a bottom floor; wheresaid base unit is tapered away from said fence panel foot to create agentle sloping ramp; where said base attachment unit further comprisesan upward protruding traffic delineator attachment mount attached on topof said base attachment unit; and wherein said traffic delineatorattachment mount includes a fastener fastening said traffic delineatorto said traffic delineator attachment mount.
 6. The construction sitefence assembly of claim 5, wherein said bottom floor of said aperture isdefined by a bottom floor portion extending from each said side walltoward one another so as to define a generally C-shape for said baseattachment unit.
 7. The construction site fence assembly of claim 5,where said fastener is a threaded fastener protruding downwardly intosaid aperture so as to affix said base unit to said construction sitefence foot plate.
 8. The construction site fence assembly of claim 5,where said base unit includes a high visibility reflector therearound.